Disney+’s Nine Puzzle and Netflix’s Mercy for None are already grabbing attention—and not just ’cause of their stacked casts.
Both shows are going all-in on multi-layered storytelling, using genre freedom on OTT platforms to push boundaries. What makes these two stand out is how they’re using their A-list ensemble within the story instead of just leaning on big names to draw clicks. It’s a fresh shift away from relying solely on a few top-billed stars—this time, everybody counts.
“We needed actors with significant presence and acting skills who could leave a lasting impression on viewers the moment they appeared,” said director Yoon Jong-bin. “We mobilized all the connections from my 20 years in the film industry.” And he wasn’t exaggerating.
- Korean Drama: Nine Puzzles (2025)
- Also Known As: Nine Puzzle
- Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Crime
- Director: Yoon Jong Bin
- Screenwriter: Lee Eun Mi
- Number of Episodes: 11
- Release date: May 21, 2025
- Finale episode date: Jun 4, 2025
- Aired On: Wednesday
- Watch On: Disney+
Let’s talk Nine Puzzle first. This one’s a mystery thriller with Kim Da-mi playing Yoon E-Na, a profiler who was the only witness to a cold case from a decade ago. Now, it’s all coming back with a creepy puzzle piece, and she’s pulled into the mess again. Opposite her is Son Suk-ku as detective Kim Han Saem, who’s not sure if he can trust her—or if she’s the one behind it all.
They’re backed by a killer lineup (pun intended): Kim Sung-kyun as team leader Yang Jung-ho from Seoul’s Violent Crimes Team 2, Hyun Bong-sik as rookie Choi San, and Jung Man-sik as the chief of the Regional Investigation Unit. This core group brings the investigative line some serious weight.
But honestly, even the so-called “side characters” are big hitters. There’s Yoon Dong-hoon (played by Ji Jin-hee), E-Na’s uncle and a former police chief. Park Gyu-young plays a psychiatrist helping E-Na cope. And then you’ve got Lee Sung-min, Park Sung-woong, Lee Hee-joon, Ok Ja-yeon, Yewon, Noh Jae-won, Baek Hyun-jin, and Kim Eung-soo all in the mix. Too stacked to be “supporting,” really.
Nine Puzzle drops 11 episodes total, rolled out in chunks: six episodes on May 21st, three on May 28th, and the final two on June 4th. All on Disney+.
- Korean Drama: Mercy for None (2025)
- Also Known As: The Square, Plaza Wars
- Genres: Action, Mystery, Crime
- Director: Choi Sung Eun
- Number of Episodes: 8
- Release date: Jun 6, 2025
- Airs On: Friday
- Watch On: Netflix
- Running time: 60 min.
Adapted from the webtoon “Plaza Wars” written by Oh Se Hyung and illustrated by Kim Kyun Tae.
Now on to Mercy for None, the gritty noir action thriller coming to Netflix. So Ji-sub is Nam Gi-joon, a former gangster who literally sliced his Achilles’ heel to get out of the game. Now, 11 years later, he’s back—and he’s hunting for answers about his brother’s death.
Two massive crime syndicates shape this world: Joowoon and Bongsan. Joowoon’s got Huh Joon-ho as boss Lee Ju-wun, his prosecutor son Lee Geum-son (Choo Young-woo), his loyal right-hand Choi Sung-chul (Jo Han-chul), and the ambitious Nam Gi-seok (Lee Joon-hyuk), who took charge after Gi-joon left… until he got taken out.
Bongsan’s led by Ahn Kil-kang as Gu Bong-san and Gong Myoung as heir Koo Jun-mo. The turf war gets even messier thanks to outsiders like Cha Yeong Do (Cha Seung-won), who plays middleman between the groups, and Lee Bum-soo as Sim Seong-won, head of N-Clean, a crime scene cleanup crew.
As these characters collide—with their tangled pasts, clashing goals, and complex emotions—the whole world of Mercy for None starts to feel intensely real. No throwaway roles here.
Mercy for None drops on June 6th at 4 PM on Netflix. Don’t sleep on it.
